Advanta World Teamtennis (WTT)
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World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League – FACTS & FIGURES Name: World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League Teams: Western Conference: Kansas City Explorers, Newport Beach Breakers, Sacramento Capitals, St. Louis Aces, Springfield Lasers Eastern Conference: Boston Lobsters, New York Sportimes, Philadelphia Freedoms, Washington Kastles • 2011 Schedule: The 36th season of the WTT Pro League runs July 4‐21, concluding with the WTT Finals Weekend, July 22‐24, at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C. • The nine coed professional tennis teams in the WTT Pro League are battling for a spot in the Finals during the 2011 regular season which runs July 4‐21. The top two teams from the regular season in both the Western and Eastern Conference will advance to the WTT Conference Championships in Charleston, with the Eastern Conference playing on Friday, July 22 (7pm ET), and the Western Conference on Saturday, July 23 (5pm ET). The Conference Champions face off for the King Trophy, named after League co‐founder Billie Jean King, in the WTT Finals presented by GEICO on Sunday, July 24 (5pm ET). The Kansas City Explorers are the defending WTT Champions, winning their first title in 2010 with a victory over the New York Sportimes in Kansas City. What to look for in 2011: • An amazing player lineup includes 14 current or former world No. 1 players in singles or doubles o Singles & Doubles: Lindsay Davenport, Martina Hingis, John McEnroe, Venus Williams, Serena Williams o Singles only: Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras o Doubles only: Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Liezel Huber, Mark Knowles, Leander Paes, Lisa Raymond, Rennae Stubbs • These No. 1s account for 1,062 ATP/WTA singles and doubles titles as well as 177 Grand Slam Championships. • The bad boys of tennis face off again for the first time in more than 10 years when John McEnroe (New York Sportimes) takes on Jimmy Connors (Philadelphia Freedoms) on July 14 at Sportimes Stadium at Randall’s Island. • For the first time in World TeamTennis’ history, the WTT Finals will be in South Carolina. The WTT Finals Weekend presented by GEICO is set for July 22‐24 at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C. The weekend includes the two Conference Championship matches at the WTT Finals. History: World TeamTennis was co‐founded in the 1970s by Billie Jean King and Larry King. The WTT Pro League first hit the courts in 1974 for a five‐year run. After a short hiatus, the League returned in 1981 and has been a highlight of the annual U.S. tennis calendar since. The WTT Pro League, which begins its 36th season in July 2011, is a showcase for three generations of tennis standouts, including legends, current tour players and future champions. Since the League’s debut, virtually every major champion of the Open era has played World TeamTennis including Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, Steffi Graf, Anna Kournikova, Andre Agassi, Venus and Serena Williams, Martina Hingis, Maria Sharapova, Lindsay Davenport, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert. Updated: 6/21/2011 Television: Tennis Channel, plus a series of regional telecasts with media partners including Comcast SportsNet. Tennis Channel will televise five WTT matches (live) along with the pre‐season preview show ‐ WTT GameChanger. Harry Cicma hosts the preview show, which includes interviews with Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Kim Clijsters and many more stars. World TeamTennis GameChanger will premiere on Comcast Mid‐Atlantic on June 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET, then air in the other six Comcast Sports Net regions throughout June. Tennis Channel airs the preview special on June 9 at 7:30 p.m. ET with multiple showings during the month. Tennis Channel will feature World TeamTennis Wednesdays, throughout June and July. Classic WTT matches will air each Wednesday in June at 12 p.m. ET. The live primetime broadcasts begin the week after Wimbledon with a lead off match on Tuesday, July 5 when Venus Williams and the Washington Kastles open up their season in their new venue, Kastles Stadium at The Wharf. The Kastles, who won the WTT title in 2009, will host the defending League champion Kansas City Explorers. Match start time is 7 p.m. ET. TENNIS CHANNEL NATIONAL BROADCAST SCHEDULE: July 5 Kansas City Explorers @ Washington Kastles (Venus Williams) July 6 Washington Kastles (Venus Williams) @ Philadelphia Freedoms July 13 New York Sportimes (John McEnroe) @ Philadelphia Freedoms (Melanie Oudin) July 20 Washington Kastles @ New York Sportimes (Kim Clijsters & Martina Hingis) July 24 WTT Finals 5:00 pm ET Players: Marquee players for 2011 include James Blake (Boston Lobsters), Bob and Mike Bryan (Kansas City Explorers), Jimmy Connors (Philadelphia Freedoms), Lindsay Davenport (St. Louis Aces), Mardy Fish (Sacramento Capitals), Martina Hingis (New York Sportimes), John Isner (Boston Lobsters), John McEnroe (New York Sportimes), Mark Philippoussis (St. Louis Aces), Pete Sampras (Newport Beach Breakers), Serena Williams (Washington Kastles) and Venus Williams (Washington Kastles). Sponsors: Official WTT Pro League sponsors for the 2011 season include Acura, DecoTurf, GEICO and Wilson Racquet Sports. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis. WTT and the USTA are teaming up on number of initiatives, including development of the youth market through junior team tennis programs. CEO/Commissioner: Ilana Kloss WTT Co‐Founders: Billie Jean King, Larry King WTT BY THE NUMBERS . Players: In 2011, more than 50 pros representing 15 countries will play in the WTT Pro League. Format: In the WTT format, each team is comprised of two men, two women and a coach. Team matches consist of five sets, with one set each of men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. The first team to reach five games wins each set. A nine‐point tiebreaker is played if a set reaches four games all. One point is awarded for each game won. If necessary, Overtime and a Supertiebreaker are played to determine the winner of the match. Matches: The nine teams will travel more than 75,000 miles to play 66 matches in 21 days. Updated: 6/21/2011 MORE ABOUT WORLD TEAMTENNIS o THIS IS THE 36TH SEASON OF WORLD TEAMTENNIS: The 36th season of the WTT Pro League runs July 4‐21, concluding with the WTT Finals Weekend, July 22‐24, at the Family Circle Tennis Center in Charleston, S.C. o WTT WAS FOUNDED IN THE 1970s ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF GENDER EQUITY. WTT co‐ founder Billie Jean King simply says, “If you have ever seen a WTT match you have seen my philosophy of life in action – men and women, competing together, on a team and both genders making equal contributions to the result.” o VERY COMPETITIVE TENNIS: While World TeamTennis is fun for the fans and players, it’s also very competitive tennis. The players take the matches seriously – it’s exciting, quality tennis. The format features cumulative scoring so every game counts. o FAN INTERACTION: WTT is a unique experience for players and the crowd. The fans are very close to the action. The atmosphere gives the players an opportunity to meet a lot of the fans and give back to people who have supported WTT for years. Teams host kids clinics each night before matches and children age 16 and under can come on the court after every WTT match and get player autographs. o THREE GENERATIONS: WTT showcases three generations of tennis players – legends, current players and up‐and‐comers. Gives the younger players a chance to play with and learn from the more experienced players. o INTERNATIONAL TENNIS SHOWCASE: In 2011, more than 50 players from 15 countries are expected to play in the WTT Pro League. o SINGLES & DOUBLES: WTT matches feature singles, doubles and mixed doubles which allows fans to see some players in a new environment – all in less than three hours. o INNOVATIONS: World TeamTennis always tries new things that make the sport more fan‐friendly – playing let serves, substitutions, instant replay, on‐court coaching, music between points, names on back of players shirts, letting fans keep balls that are hit into the stands, multi‐colored courts – it’s a little different but it brings the fans closer to the game. Updated: 6/21/2011 2011 WTT Pro League full rosters (including marquee and roster players // * = marquee; wc = wild card) EASTERN CONFERENCE WESTERN CONFERENCE Boston Lobsters Kansas City Explorers James Blake* Madison Brengle Eric Butorac Bob Bryan* Jan‐Michael Gambill Mike Bryan* John Isner* Alex Kuznetsov Coco Vandeweghe Ricardo Mello Mashona Washington Kveta Peschke Coach: Bud Schultz Coach: Brent Haygarth New York Sportimes Newport Beach Breakers Martina Hingis* Lester Cook Robert Kendrick Anne Keothavong John McEnroe* Marie‐Eve Pelletier Katie O’Brien Travis Rettenmaier Jesse Witten Pete Sampras* Coach: Fritz Buehning Coach: Trevor Kronemann Philadelphia Freedoms Sacramento Capitals Beatrice Capra Mardy Fish* Jimmy Connors Vania King Brendan Evans Mark Knowles Nathan Healey Dusan Vemic Melanie Oudin* Yasmin Schnack Lisa Raymond Coach: Wayne Bryan Asst. Coach: Josh Cohen Coach: Pascal Collard St. Louis Aces Roman Borvanov Washington Kastles Lindsay Davenport* Leander Paes Liezel Huber Bobby Reynolds Mark Philippoussis* Arina Rodionova Jean‐Julien Rojer Rennae Stubbs Coach: Rick Leach Serena Williams* Venus Williams* Springfield Lasers Coach: Murphy Jensen Carly Gullickson Lilia Osterloh Paul Hanley Raven Klaasen Rik de Voest Asst. Coach: Martin Damm Coach: John‐Laffnie de Jager * = marquee player wc = wild card player Updated: 6/21/2011 2011 World TeamTennis (WTT) Pro League Schedule 2011 MARQUEE & WILD CARD PLAYERS: Boston Lobsters: James Blake, John Isner Kansas City Explorers: Bob and Mike Bryan New York Sportimes: Martina Hingis, John McEnroe Newport Beach Breakers: Pete Sampras Philadelphia Freedoms: Jimmy Connors, Melanie Oudin Sacramento Capitals: Mardy Fish St.